‘Accountability is the key’

HT spoke with the medical superintendent of CNBC on how the hospital was transformed.

CNBC is the first government hospital in the country to have received the quality mark. Reactions.

It is very satisfying. But it was not easy. The staff had to undergo vigorous training. Now, the maintenance stage is more challenging. What I found most frustrating was files kept sitting in offices for long, before any headway.

So did you find a way out?Yes. While we can’t do much about the sanctions and approvals, I floated tenders for outsourcing support work to private hands for almost every department except medicine.

How does outsourcing help?Work culture is better. Better accountability. Employees live in constant fear of being terminated if they do not perform as required.

So PPP mode has worked well for your hospital.Absolutely. Hospitals like GTB and Lok Nayak are also slowly adopting the PPP mode. I suggest most government set-ups do the same.

What has been your strength?Young faculty. They are receptive to change and willing to learn.

What are your futures plans?I would like neuro-surgery and cardio-surgery departments. A children’s hospital is incomplete without these.